Artists fight AI with blank books

The Day Books Went Blank: 10,000 Authors vs. AI | Inside the "Don’t Steal This Book" ProtestWhy are thousands of the world’s most famous writers handing out empty books today? In this episode, we report from the 2026 London Book Fair, where a massive creative rebellion is taking place. Over 10,000 authors, including Kazuo Ishiguro, Richard Osman, and Philippa Gregory, have published Don’t Steal This Book—a volume containing nothing but their names.We dive into the "existential threat" authors are facing as the UK government considers a "commercial research exception" that could legalize the use of copyrighted works to train AI without payment or consent. Learn why activists like Ed Newton-Rex and icons like Sir Elton John are calling these policies a "legalization of theft". With only one week left before the government's crucial economic impact assessment on March 18, find out what's at stake for the future of literature and your next favorite book.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scitech-brief--6846358/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.